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Pretty Snow

They're saying five to seven inches in the city.

Some people actually like this crap. Managing editor Elizabeth Donovan, for instance, is all about it. She'll come into my office on an unusually warm winter day with a frown on her face and say, "I wish it would snow."

"You wish it would snow?! Are you frigging out of your mind, woman?" That's what I say to her.

My mom is another one. She actually called me up today to tell me it was snowing, like I couldn't tell. I slogged through the gray and sloppy mess on my way to the train station and listened to her syrupy…

Steven Bernstein's Diaspora Suite

Disaspora Suite is the 4th in a series of albums recorded by trumpeter-composer Steven Bernstein for John Zorn’s Tzadik label (the others were Diaspora Soul, Diaspora Blues, and Diaspora Hollywood). It’s also the most ambitious, far-flung, and satisfying. The band is a nonet that includes the versatile Nels Cline on electric guitar (strumming, plucking, and occasionally wailing), Peter Apfelbaum on saxes, and Ben Goldberg on clarinet. This is by no means simply “Jewish music.” The sounds and influences drift in from everywhere. The first track starts with an electric guitar riff and bongos…

Does Loud Equal Music?

From NYT Arts section ads:

"...evokes the masterpieces of silent cinema and Orson Welles' Citizen Kane."

"...bears comparison to the greatest achievements of Griffith and Ford."

God help critics. Citizen Kane!!!!

Some just like so much that the joy blinds 'em. That and their desire to be quoted in hysterical newspaper ads. 'Course the flip side is, there's nothing worse than critics who hate: their job, their salary, what they're supposed to review, themselves. When critics go permanently dark, it ain't pretty.

For proof that critics are just…

As Special As This

I spent some time last night listening to Joanna Newsom's Ys. Tangent CDP-50, Tangent AMP-50, Totem Arro loudspeakers. I know and love the Totem speakers, but the Tangents are new to me and, with Joanna Newsom's help and harp perhaps, they sounded better&#151more capable&#151than ever before in my small living room. The sound was fleshy and fast and detailed, whereas (earlier on and with other material) it had been thin and mechanical and uninvolving. I don't know if this has to do with the electronics breaking-in&#151they've now been in the system for about 200 hours…

Cognitive Frequency

As our summer intern, Ariel Bitran proved tireless, helping to make the 2008 Stereophile Buyer's Guide our biggest, most beautiful, and most comprehensive yet. His spirit&#151youthful, enthusiastic, passionate, curious, goofy&#151was stimulating and infectious. It was great to have him around, and I've enjoyed watching as his interest in hi-fi grows.

I'll be keeping an eye on his new blog: Cognitive Frequency: Music and Thoughts About It.

Listening to music. On the hi-fi.

Shaking his head and smiling, he says:

"I'm just having so much fun. Digging through my records, finding albums that I'd forgotten about, picking anything that might sound good, listening to everything from jazz to blues to rock to metal to classical...."

He pauses, and then:

"The system just sounds great. I'm hearing things in new ways. It changes everything."

Laughter, Happiness, and Hope

Two founding fathers of salsa, Johnny Pacheco and Eddie Palmieri, discuss the history of their wonderful musical style and the birth of the Fania record label in this interesting and entertaining interview with Latino USA's Maria Hinojosa.

Starting with only $2500, Johnny Pacheco and his partner, Jerry Masucci, built a family of musicians that would sell out venues as large as Yankees Stadium and Madison Square Garden, and go on to travel around the world with their exciting new music.

Pacheco recalls traveling to Zaire for a performance during the historic Muhammad Ali-…

The Locked-In Rhythm Section

I loved the way the band worked together&#151how each member lifted every other, and how each member excelled during solos&#151but I was most impressed by the locked-in rhythm section, and especially Pedro Martinez on congas. His hands turned into light, racing across the conga heads, speeding away from everything else&#151the stage, the room, the cold night&#151while remaining right on time.

<i>"Congui Congui Music"</i>

I sat at the bar and ordered a Brooklyn Winter.

Dizzy's is a wonderful venue for live music. The slightly elevated stage rests against the cold glass wall, which offers a marvelous view of Columbus Circle, glowing all red and white and constant. The room is oasis-shaped&#151curving all around, narrowing and widening. Reservations are required to sit at one of the many tables that occupy the floor, but the view is excellent from any of the tall chairs that line the curved walls extending from the entrance and working all the way around to the bar.

Arturo O'Farrill…

Arturo O'Farrill's Sextet at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

The wind rushed hard and cold as I emerged from the Columbus Circle station.

It takes a moment to find your place. Be careful to follow the curves. There are long twisting streaks of red and white light, tall glass buildings rocketing high into the night sky, vehicles and tourists and locals moving in every direction. Search for Broadway, search for 60th. Turn slowly until you see the sign:

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER
ROSE HALL

You'll see it. Once you're inside, take about ten steps forward and turn right. An older, well-dressed woman will press the button…